Chemistry industry reduces emissions footprint by 87 per cent

OTTAWA, May 25 /CNW Telbec/ - Members of the Chemistry Industry Association of Canada have reduced their emissions by 87 per cent since 1992, according to a new report released by the association. Reducing Emissions 17, released today, tracks the environmental performance of member-companies' chemical manufacturing operations, and their adherence to the association's stringent environmental ethic, Responsible Care(R).

"Our members are leading the industry in reducing emissions year after year," said Richard Paton, President and CEO of the Chemistry Industry Association of Canada. "We introduced Responsible Care emissions reporting in 1992, and our members have consistently delivered on their promise to reduce their environmental footprint."

Reducing Emissions highlights the achievements of association members in such areas as environmental health, climate change and ozone depletion. Those achievements include:

    
    -   Virtually eliminating emissions to water (a 99.5 per cent reduction
        since 1992)

    -   Reducing releases of known and probable carcinogens by 94 per cent

    -   Eliminating 98 per cent of emissions of 14 high-priority substances
        targeted by Canada's Chemicals Management Plan

    -   Reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 38 per cent since 2000, despite
        increased production

    -   Decreasing ozone-depleting discharges by 66 per cent since 2000
    

To download a complete version of Reducing Emissions 17, or to learn more about the Chemistry Industry Association of Canada and its members, visit www.canadianchemistry.ca.

For further information: Michael Bourque, Vice-President, External Relations, [phone] x 225; Sarah Mayes, Manager, Public Affairs, [phone] x 239